Mormon church responds to 'deceptive' depiction in Netflix's show 'American Primeval'

Netflix's new historical fiction series "American Primeval" is coming under fire for its depiction of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and leader Brigham Young.

The Mormon church responded to the series in a release on Friday, calling it "dangerously misleading" and the portrayal of Young "egregiously mischaracterized."

"A recently released streaming series presents a fictionalized interpretation of events in mid-19th century Utah. While historical fiction can be illuminating, this drama is dangerously misleading," the church wrote. "Brigham Young, a revered prophet and courageous pioneer, is, by any historical standard, egregiously mischaracterized as a villainous, violent fanatic. Other individuals and groups are also depicted in ways that reinforce stereotypes that are both inaccurate and harmful."

The series, created by Peter Berg ("Friday Night Lights") and written by Mark L. Smith, follows a "mother and son fleeing from their past form a found family while confronting a harsh landscape of freedom and cruelty in the American West."

USA TODAY has reached out to Berg's production company and Netflix for comment.

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USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler called the series "savage and primal and bloody and cold and ruthless" as it depicts "all the worst parts of life."

The series premiered earlier this month and stars Taylor Kitsch (Isaac), Elizabeth "Betty" Gilpin (Sara Rowell), Preston Mota (Devin Rowell) and Shawnee Pourier (Two Moons) as they travel west. But the group is soon caught up in the middle of an undeclared war between Indigenous nations, the U.S. government, pioneers heading west and the newly powerful Mormon church, its Nauvoo militia and Young.

The series depicts the Mountain Meadows massacre during the 1857-58 Utah War. In the massacre, settlers of the LDS Church involved in a territorial militia killed 120 American western emigrants.

The church said the series "inaccurately portrays" the massacre "as reflective of a whole faith group."

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"The Church has long acknowledged and condemned this horrific tragedy," the LDS Church said. "It has also taken significant steps to uncover and share the full truth of what happened and promote healing.

"The problem with such deceptive, graphic and sensationalized storytelling is that it not only obscures reality and hinders genuine understanding but can foster animosity, hate and even violence. This is particularly troubling today when peacemakers are needed more than ever," the church continued.

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Contributing: Kelly Lawler

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netflix slammed by LDS Church for 'American Primeval' TV series